DON’T STRESS! THE SECRET OF AGEING WELL

In today’s world few people are exempt from the effects of stress. You can feel it and, even worse, you can actually see it in the mirror too. We all know how stress can damage our health and emotions, but signs of stress can also show up on your hair, skin, and nails. Although, we all have different ways of dealing with it, a new study has confirmed that staying calm and adopting healthier lifestyle habits from eating right to being kind to yourself may add 10 years to your life in a matter of months. Mindfulness, the mental state achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment, can also bring about long-term benefits and positively affects levels of happiness and well-being.
Busy lives often prevent us from thinking about the present and ourselves but fortunately the beauty brands and cosmetic clinics are doing it for us and launching innovative products and treatments to combat the effects of stress.
From mindful massages and spiritual based skincare to calming lotions and potions for distressed hair and tense bodies there are plenty of clever new stress busting beauty buys and rescue treatments to help you keep calm – and look it.

Body and Mind Rescue
More than a thousand years ago, roses were used to treat everything from depression to coughing fits — and with good reason as these beautiful blooms have anti-inflammatory properties as well as emollient qualities. When bathing use Natural Rose Soap (£5.50 rosinaslotionpotions.com) and then take the time to massage in a rich body cream – try Odylique Rose Velvet a Body Lotion (£18 currently on special offer – www.odylique.co.uk) the ultimate treat for the skin and the aroma will uplift the senses too.
* Like hair, nails can become brittle, discoloured and thinner when under stress. Treat yourself to a Mindful Manicure with Nails Inc first anti ageing nail formulation. Powered by Collagen (£14 nailsinc.co.uk) to help restore strength and keep nails looking glossy.
*There’s nothing like a long soak to relax mind and body. For added therapeutic benefits, throw in a handful of Aveda Stress Fix soaking salts (£31 aveda.co.uk) made of sugar and mineral salts with the wonderful comforting smell of lavender.
*The feel- good power of fragrance is often underestimated. Keep a body spray handy and spritz yourself throughout the day. Try Yardley’s new English Freesia Body Spray (£2.49 from Sainsbury’s) an energizing and uplifting contemporary fragrance which smells as good as an expensive French perfume.
* For a special treat book one of the new mindful massage treatments. ESPA Mindful Massage is a 90-minute holistic, deeply relaxing experience which works on the concept of mindfulness, focusing on both mind and body to help you reduce stress and ‘be more in the present’. The therapist skillfully guides you through breathing and visualisation techniques to help relax the mind and release physical or emotional anxieties. The feet are then massaged to help rebalance and ground, before a soothing, deeply therapeutic massage is continued up through the body to promote positivity to the mind, finishing with a re-energising scalp massage using warm rose quartz crystals. From £190. www.espalifeatcorinthia.com

Face Rescue
Under stress, everyone‘s skin reacts differently but dehydration, dullness, skin fatigue, breakouts and uneven skin tone are all signs your skin is having a mini breakdown. Ren Ever Calm Global Protection Day Cream (£28 ren.co.uk) contains a powerful blend of antioxidants to soothes irritable skin and eases discomfort.
* The stress hormone cortisol can increase oil production which can cause blocked pores and spots.Try Murad Blemish Spot Treatment £15 – which includes sulphur to zap spots and AHAs to speed up cell turnover
*Anti- Stress Facial – a 60 minute stress busting facial which combines a mix of rose oils and massage therapy using long, lifting strokes to tone and ease away tension from the muscles restoring luminosity to dull, tired skin. From £100 – 0207 436 4441.
* Many precious stones are known for their healing properties and are now being used in ‘spiritual’ skin care – try Aeos Energising Skin Conditioner (£54.99 aesos.net) a potent serum type cream loaded with seven crystals including amethyst, quartz and emerald to restore balance to skin and calm excess oil production.
*If stress is written all over your face a few well-placed injections of Botox will erase worry and frown lines. The treatment can also help Bruxism (jaw grinding) caused through stress and patients have also reported a marked reduction in their general stress level as their grinding disappears. Botox treatment of teeth grinding is painless and quick (5 minutes) and results for both procedures kick in around five days after injections and will last up to six months. From £200 – 0207 436 4441